Debit Purchasing of Stored Value Card For Use By And/Or Delivery To Others

ABSTRACT

A method of issuing a purchase card is provided. The method includes the steps of presenting a purchaser with the opportunity to buy the purchase card, determining whether the purchaser has sufficient funds to pay for the purchase card, creating a purchase card account for a recipient designated by the purchaser, and issuing the purchase card. The purchase card may also be issued in connection with another credit card, for example as a rebate for purchases on the credit card. The purchase card may also be converted to a credit card.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a system for purchasing or transferring ofstored value or debit purchasing cards, which can be pre-arranged to begiven as a gift to a designated recipient.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

On many occasions, consumers, other bank customers, credit card holders,and other persons find it is desirable to arrange for another person,perhaps a relative, to have access to a specified sum of money. Forexample, a parent might want to arrange for a child to have access tomoney when the child is taking a trip or going away to college. One mayalso find it desirable to mail a gift to another person who isgeographically distant. In these and other cases, it is oftenundesirable to give away or send cash. If lost or stolen, cash ispractically unrecoverable. Traveler's checks are also undesirable asthey must be purchased at a bank and are not acceptable for many typesof purchases. Gift certificates are also undesirable because theyrequire the recipient to purchase from the merchant that issued the giftcertificate. These and other drawbacks exist to the aforementionedalternatives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to overcome these and other drawbacks inexisting purchase schemes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method for issuing apurchase card comprising: presenting a purchaser with the opportunity tobuy the purchase card, determining whether the purchaser has sufficientfunds to pay for the purchase card, creating a purchase card account fora recipient designated by the purchaser; and issuing the purchase card.

A further object of the invention is to provide a purchase card wherethe recipient activates the purchase card.

A further object of the invention is to provide a purchase card wherethe purchase card account contains a monetary amount determined by thepurchaser of the purchase card.

A further object of the invention is to provide a purchase card wheremoney can be added to the balance of an issued purchase card account.

A further object of the invention is to provide a purchase card wherethe purchase card is activated when the issuer of the purchase card isnotified that the recipient has received the purchase card.

A further object of the invention is to provide a purchase card wherethe issuer of the purchase card notifies the purchaser that therecipient has received the purchase card.

A further object of the invention is to provide a purchase card wherethe purchaser may designate with which merchants the purchase card maybe used.

A further object of the invention is to provide a purchase card wherethe purchase card is activated for a predetermined period of time.

Another object is to provide a method for issuing a purchase card as arebate award comprising: issuing a credit card to a cardholder, saidcredit card being associated with a sponsor, calculating a rebate amountbased upon cardholder purchases made with said credit card, issuing apurchase card to a cardholder or to a recipient designated by saidcardholder, said purchase card having a purchase value determined bysaid rebate amount.

A further object of the invention is to provide a purchase card wherethe recipient of the purchase card activates the card.

A further object of the invention is to provide a purchase card wherethe recipient activates the purchase card by notifying the issuer thatthe recipient has received the purchase card.

A further object of the invention is to provide a purchase card wherethe purchase card is activated for a predetermined period of time.

A further object of the invention is to provide a purchase card wherethe rebate is calculated based on all purchases made with the creditcard.

A further object of the invention is to provide a purchase card wherethe rebate is calculated based on purchase from the sponsor made withthe credit card.

A further object of the invention is to provide a purchase card wherethe sponsor notifies the issuer of the amount of rebate due a creditcard holder, and the issuer creates a purchase card in that amount.

A further object of the invention is to provide a purchase card wherethe, rebate is based on the monetary value of the purchases.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method forconverting a purchase card into a credit card comprising: creating apurchase card account for a recipient designated by the purchaser;issuing the purchase card; receiving a request from the recipient toconvert the purchase card into a credit card; determining whether therecipient meets predetermined credit criteria to convert the purchasecard into a credit card; creating a credit card account; and convertingthe purchase card into a credit card.

A further object of the invention is to provide a purchase card wherethe balance of the purchase card account is transferred to the creditcard account.

A further object of the invention is to provide a purchase card wherethe credit cards is immediately activated upon being converted from apurchase card.

Other objects and advantages exist for the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a flow diagram for a portion of the purchase card system.

FIG. 2 shows a flow diagram for another portion of the purchase cardsystem.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

One embodiment of the purchase card system is shown in FIG. 1. In thisembodiment the purchase card process begins with an offer to purchase agift card at step 100. The offer may be in any suitable form that wouldnotify prospective purchasers 105 of the availability of the purchasecard. For example, a written solicitation may be mailed or otherwisedistributed to potential purchasers 105. The offer may also be in theform of oral notification, for example, a telephone call to prospectivepurchasers 105. Alternatively, the offer may be published over acomputer network, for example, on an Internet Web site. Other forms ofoffering the sale of a purchase card are also possible. In oneembodiment of the invention, offers are made to prospective purchaserswho already have a financial relationship with the offeror. Otherpotential purchasers may also be offered the opportunity to obtain apurchase card.

The offer may be accepted by a purchaser 105 by notifying a customerservice center 110. The acceptance may be in any form acceptable to thecustomer service center 110. For example, the purchaser may mail, fax,or otherwise transmit a written acceptance, telephone an acceptance, orelectronically transmit, for example, via Web Site, an acceptance bycomputer or other suitable device. At step 120, the customer servicecenter 110 receives pertinent information to identify the purchaser 105and the purchaser's desired spending limit for the purchase card. Forexample, the customer service center may identify the purchaser 105 byname, address, credit card account number, social security number, otherunique identifiers or a combination of identifiers.

At step 130, the customer service center 120 is checked to verify thatthe caller or purchaser was included in the solicitations for thisprogram. If the caller or purchaser was not originally solicited,customer service 120 determines whether to extend an offer in step 135.

If the caller or purchaser was solicited 130, certain purchaser 105information may be accessed at 140. If, for example, the purchaserwishes to pay for the purchase card with a credit card, the purchaser'scredit card account information may be accessed. For example, thepurchaser's available credit limit may be accessed at 145 to verify thatsufficient credit is available to cover the spending amount of thepurchase card. If the available credit is insufficient, the purchaser105 may be so informed at 150. The purchaser 105 may be given theopportunity to modify the purchase card spending amount, at 155, inorder to ensure that the purchase amount does not exceed the availablecredit.

The process may terminate at 160 if, for example, the purchaser 105 doesnot wish to modify the purchase amount.

After it has been determined that the purchaser's available credit issufficient, a transaction may be posted to the purchaser's credit cardfor the amount of the purchase at 170. In another embodiment of thepresent invention, a purchaser may use a check, cash, or other financialmethods to obtain a purchase card. Regardless of the purchasing method,the issuer of the purchase card must determine whether the purchaser hassufficient funds to purchase the card.

When the purchase card is paid for by credit or bank account, thepurchaser's account balance is updated at 175 to reflect the purchase.The account balance information, as well as information identifying thepurchaser 105 and the recipient, may be stored in a retrievable andaccessible fashion. For example, the information may be stored incomputer database 180. After the purchaser 105 has paid (or authorizedpayment) for the purchase card, and it is posted to a credit cardaccount, the acceptance process is complete and the acceptance processterminates at 160.

An account for the purchase card is created at 190. This may beperformed by a third party processor that establishes and managespurchase card accounts, for example, at 200. Creation of the purchasecard account may comprise various actions, such as, recording therecipients 215 name, address and phone number, imprinting a card with anaccount number, a recipient name and an expiration date, encoding thecard to record the purchase value stored thereon, and other actions,such as, for example, preparing account fulfillment documents (e.g. cardcarrier activation, etc.).

When the purchase card account is complete, the card is delivered. Inone embodiment of the invention, card may be affiliated with aparticular network, such a credit network, or debit network. Forexample, a card may be affiliated with the VISAS network. The deliverymay be to the purchaser 105 or to the recipient 215, as shown at 210.The place of delivery may be arranged during the initial purchase of thecard or other suitable time before delivery.

Information regarding an account is sent to account file 220, where anaccount can be monitored. In one embodiment, account file 220 allowsmonitoring of the current balance of an account, any activity in theaccount, including debits and credits, transaction updates, and thelike. Other information about an account, such as purchase disputeresolutions, the history provided by the customer, and account status,may also be monitored.

Before the purchase card can be used to make purchases, it must beactivated as shown in FIG. 2 at 230. Activation may be accomplished inany suitable manner. For example, the recipient 215 of the card mayplace a telephone call to an activation center 240. Activation center240 may act as a telemarketing vendor by verifying information about therecipient (i.e. name, address, telephone number, etc.) before thepurchase card is activated. The activation center 240 may then transmitthe data about the recipient to Data Service 200 to activate thepurchase card for use. Activation center 240 may also modify informationabout a recipient, such as, for example, a change of address. Otherforms of activation, such as by computer network may also be used.

During activation certain verifications may be made at 250 to ensurethat the intended recipient 215 is the person attempting to activate thepurchase card. These security checks 250 may entail questions aboutpersonal information (e.g., name, address, telephone number, etc.) ormay utilize other well known methods of authenticating the recipient215. If the person attempting to activate the purchase card does notpass the security check 250, the purchase card will be denied activationat 255 and the activation process may terminate at 260. If the personattempting to activate the purchase card passes the security check 250,they may be prompted at 252 for more information. The information may beused for subsequent security checks, should they be required, or toverify or complete the purchase card account information.

After activation the purchase card is ready for use. In some embodimentsof the invention the activation process will end at this point. Therecipient 215 may now use the purchase card to make purchases whereever, for example, VISA® cards are accepted. Each time a purchase ismade using the card, the amount of the purchase will be debited from thecard's available balance. The purchase card will continue to operate aslong as a positive balance remains on the card. Some embodiments of thepurchase card may have the capacity to have additional purchase valueadded to them after they have been activated.

If the recipient of a purchase card is someone other than the purchaser,the issuer of the card may notify the purchaser regarding variousaspects of the card. For example, in one embodiment of the invention,the issuer could notify the purchaser that the purchase card has beenreceived and activated by the intended recipient. An issuer may alsonotify a purchaser where the purchase card is being used, or whatproducts are being purchased with the purchase card.

Some embodiments of the purchase card will include an expiration date.After the expiration date has passed the purchase card will bede-activated and cease to operate. In another embodiment of the presentinvention, a recipient or a purchaser of a purchase card may add to thebalance of the purchase card account. This may take place in a mannersubstantially similar to the original purchasing of the purchase card.For example, a recipient of a purchase card may request that an amountbe posted to the recipient's credit card and that the same amount thenbe credited to the recipient's purchase card account. Other methods ofadding to the balance of a purchase card account may also be used.

Another embodiment of the invention allows the recipient 215 to convertthe purchase card into a credit card. Conversion may be accomplished inthe following manner. The recipient 215 calls the activation center 240to activate the purchase card and the security check 250 may beperformed in the usual manner. After passing the security check, the ageof the recipient 215 is determined at 270. If the recipient 215 is anadult (e.g., over the age of 18) an offer to convert the purchase cardinto a credit card may be extended at 271. At step 275 the recipient 215may decline the offer to convert, in which case the process mayterminate at 280. If the recipient 215 elects to convert the purchasecard to a credit card the activation center 240 may capture additionaldata 285 from recipient 215, in order to complete a credit cardapplication. At step 290 the credit card application data is forwardedto a credit decisioning office 300. The credit decisioning office 300may make inquiries to a credit bureau 305, for example, obtaining acredit report on the recipient 215. At 310 the decision is renderedwhether to approve the credit card application. If the application for acredit card is declined at 315, the recipient 215 may be notified at320. Notification may be in any suitable form, for example, a letterexplaining the declined application may be mailed at 320 to therecipient 215. Other forms of notification may also be used to notifyrecipient 215 of the declined application.

Even though the credit card application is declined at 310, the purchasecard is activated for use. At 330, the account settings allowing a cardto be used at merchants are sent to the data service 200 and the cardwill be activated as a purchase card account. Information pertaining tothe purchase card account is stored in a retrievable and accessiblemanner. For example, the purchase card account information may be storedin a computer 332.

If the decision at 310 is to accept the application for a credit card,the recipient 215 may be notified at 340. Again, notification may be inany suitable form, for example, a letter or other suitable notification.Regardless of the decision whether to convert the purchase card into acredit card, the purchase card is activated at the end of the activationcall. If the purchase card is not already active, it may be activated at345. At 350 the purchase card is converted to a credit card. The creditcard will function in a manner usual for such credit instruments. Forexample, a credit limit may be assigned, periodic account activitystatements may be generated and finance charges may be applied to anyoutstanding balance. In one embodiment, any remaining balance from thepurchase card account may be transferred and applied to the credit cardaccount. At 355 an update is sent to a retrievable data storage system,for example, computer 360. The update 355 sends credit card applicationdecisions into a database.

In another embodiment of the purchase card, a financial institution(e.g., a bank) issues a credit card to a cardholder. The card may be aco-branded card issued in cooperation with a sponsor. In thisembodiment, the sponsor offers a rebate to the cardholder based upon thedollar value amount of purchases made with the co-branded credit card.The rebate may apply to all purchases made or just to purchases madefrom the sponsor. The rebate may be calculated in a manner specified bythe terms of the cardholder agreement or other disclosures to thecardholder. In one embodiment of the invention, disclosure about therebate is provided to the cardholder in a separate form included withthe cardholder agreement. For example, the sponsor may offer a flatpercentage rebate for purchases made. In one embodiment of theinvention, the, card issuer calculates the rebate due the cardholderbased on the balance paid.

In another embodiment, the sponsor notifies the financial institution ofthe amount of rebate to be awarded to the cardholder. The financialinstitution will then issue a purchase card for the amount of therebate. The purchase card may be used for purchases in the abovedescribed manner, for example, everywhere VISA® is accepted, or thepurchase card may be used for purchases solely with the sponsor or otherdesignated entities.

Other embodiments and uses of the invention will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practiceof the invention disclosed herein. The specification and examples shouldbe considered exemplary only. The scope of the invention is only limitedby the claims appended hereto.

1-108. (canceled)
 109. A computer-implemented method for creating astored value card affiliated with a predetermined transaction network, agovernmental sponsor, and an issuer, the method comprising: creating ina computer database an independent and separate stored value account,wherein the independent stored value card account includes informationabout: a) a stored value account number; and b) a stored value purchaseamount; marking the stored value card with an identifier associated witha cardholder and at least one of a transaction network identificationindicia associated with the transaction network and an issueridentification indicia associated with the issuer; issuing the cardassociated with the independent and separate account to the cardholder;activating the independent and separate account upon notification to theissuer that the cardholder has received the card; and reloading thestored value card upon receiving a reload request from one of: thecardholder and the governmental sponsor; wherein the stored value cardis usable for purchases of goods and services.
 110. The method of claim109 further comprising the issuer providing the governmental sponsorwith account transaction information related to the independent andseparate stored value account wherein the account transactioninformation includes transaction locations and transaction items. 111.The method of claim 109, wherein the stored value card is issued by agovernmental sponsor to a cardholder as a distribution to the cardholderof one of: federal benefits, disaster relief funding, expensereimbursements, insurance claim distributions, employee pay, andemployee benefits.
 112. The method of claim 109, wherein merchants atwhich the card is usable are specified by the governmental sponsor. 113.The method of claim 109, wherein the goods and services purchasable bythe card are specified by the governmental sponsor.
 114. The method ofclaim 109, wherein the identifier associated with a cardholder comprisesa cardholder's name.
 115. The method of claim 109, wherein theidentifier associated with a cardholder comprises a stored value accountnumber and the independent and separate stored value account is updatedto contain cardholder information upon activation.
 116. The method ofclaim 109, wherein activation of the stored value card comprisesactivating the stored value card for a predetermined period of time.117. A computer-implemented method for creating a stored value cardaffiliated with a predetermined transaction network, a financialinstitution sponsor, and an issuer, the method comprising: creating in acomputer database an independent and separate stored value account,wherein the independent separate stored value account includesinformation about: a) a stored value account number; and b) a storedvalue purchase amount; marking the stored value card with an identifierassociated with a cardholder and at least one of a transaction networkidentification indicia associated with the transaction network and anissuer identification indicia associated with the issuer; issuing thecard associated with the independent and separate account to thecardholder; activating the independent and separate account uponnotification to the issuer that the cardholder has received the card;and reloading the stored value card upon receiving a reload request fromone of: the cardholder and the governmental sponsor; wherein the storedvalue card is usable for purchases of goods and services.
 118. Themethod of claim 117, wherein the financial institution comprises aninsurance company.
 119. A computer-implemented system for creating astored value card affiliated with a predetermined transaction network, agovernmental sponsor, and an issuer, the system comprising: a computerstorage system for storing an account file containing information aboutan independent and separate stored value account, wherein theindependent and separate stored value card account comprises informationabout: a) a stored value account number; and b) a stored value purchaseamount; a marking device configured to mark the stored value card withan identifier associated with a cardholder and at least one oftransaction network identification indicia associated with thetransaction network and issuer identification indicia associated withthe issuer; and a processor for executing instructions configured to:issue the card associated with the independent and separate account to acardholder; activate the independent and separate stored value accountupon notification to the issuer that the cardholder has received thecard; reload the stored value card upon receiving a reload request fromone of: the cardholder and the governmental sponsor; wherein the storedvalue account is usable for purchases from merchants affiliated with thetransaction network.
 120. The system of claim 119, wherein the processoris further configured to execute instructions to provide thegovernmental sponsor with account transaction information from theissuer wherein the account transaction information includes transactionlocations and transaction items.
 121. The system of claim 119, whereinthe stored value card is issued by a governmental sponsor to acardholder as a distribution to the cardholder of one of: federalbenefits, disaster relief funding, expense reimbursements, insuranceclaim distributions, employee pay, and employee benefits.
 122. Thesystem of claim 119, wherein the merchants at which the card is usableare specified by the governmental sponsor.
 123. The system of claim 119,wherein goods and services purchasable by the card are specified by thegovernmental sponsor.
 124. The system of claim 119, wherein theidentifier associated with a cardholder comprises a cardholder's name.125. The system of claim 119, wherein the identifier associated with acardholder comprises a stored value account number and the stored valueaccount is updated to contain cardholder information upon activation.126. The system of claim 119, wherein the independent stored value cardaccount further includes information about a cardholder.
 127. The systemof claim 119, wherein activation of the stored value card comprisesactivating the stored value card for a predetermined period of time.128. The system of claim 119, wherein the predetermined transactionnetwork and the issuer are the same.
 129. The system of claim 119,further comprising: an input device for receiving a request for a storedvalue card associated with the stored value account.